Process for avoiding creases in tubular knit acrylic fabrics

ABSTRACT

A PROCESS FOR AVOIDING CREASES IN TUBULAR KNIT ACRYLIC FABRIC INTENDED FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CLOTHING COMPRISING HEATING A MOVING WET KNITTED TUBE OF SAID FABRIC SO THAT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE FABRIC&#39;&#39;S SURFACE WATER IS RAISED TO BETWEEN 130* TO 160*F., EXPOSING SAID MOVING FABRIC TO THE ACTION OF LIVE STEAM WHEREBY THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SURFACE WATER IS RAISED TO BETWEEN   180* TO 210*F., AND THEN RAPIDLY CHILLING THE FABRIC BY QUENCHING IT IN TAP WATER, AND THEN PLAITING AND DRYING THE FABRIC.

Nov. 16, 1971 R. M. OBERHOLTZER 3,619,831

PROCESS FOR AVOIDING CREASES IN TUBULAR KNIT ACRYLIC FABRICS Filed May29, 1969 m x mm H L m M0 n VH 0 6 F A 0 MM m J z ma United States Patent3,619,831 PROCESS FOR AVOIDING CREASES IN TUBULAR KNIT ACRYLIC FABRICSRobert M. Oberholtzer, Wyomissing, Pa., assignor to O. B. Dyers, Inc.,Reading, Pa. Filed May 29, 1969, Ser. No. 828,893 Int. Cl. B08b 3/00 US.Cl. 8-1491 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A process for avoidingcreases in tubular knit acrylic fabric intended for use in themanufacture of clothing comprising heating a moving wet knitted tube ofaid fabric so that the temperature of the fabrics surface water israised to between 130 to 160 F., exposing said moving fabric to theaction of live steam whereby the temperature of the surface water israised to between 180 to 210 F., and then rapidly chilling the fabric byquenching it in tap water, and then plaiting and drying the fabric.

This invention is directed to a process for avoiding creases in tubularknit acrylic fabrics, and in particular, to a process for avoidingcreases in dyed wet tubular knit acrylic fabrics intended for use inclothing.

By acrylic fabrics, as used herein, is meant fabrics formed from fibersdesignated acrylic fibers or modacrylic fibers pursuant to Rule 7 of therules and regulations promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission underthe Textile Fiber Products Identification Act. Examples of acrylicfibers include: Creslan, Acrilan, Zefran and Orlon. Examples ofmodacrylic fibers include: Verel, Dynel, Kanekalon and Teklan.

Tubular knit acrylic fabrics intended for use in clothings, such as mensand childrens shirts, mens coats, and ladies dresses, are conventionallyBeck or paddle dyed and then steamed, quenched, plaited and dried.However, such tubular knit acrylic fabrics have suffered from what theart has termed casual creases, namely small irregular creases or cracks,which appeared as depressions in the knit fabric. These are unsightly,and have proved to be a detriment in the finished fabric.

This invention has as an object a process for treating tubular knitacrylic fabrics intended for use in clothing so as to avoid casualcreases.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The aforesaid objects are accomplished by the pr ceSS of the presentinvention in which a preheating step is employed intermediate the dyeingand steaming steps as conventionally practiced with tubular knit acrylicfabric intended for use in clothing. In particular, this inventioninvolves the heating of a tube of tubular knit acrylic fabric intendedfor use in clothing that is moving at a speed of between 30 to 60 yardsper minute, and which has been dyed and is wet to a temperature suchthat the surface water on the fabric is raised to between 130 to 160 F.,followed by steaming with high pressure steam so that the temperature ofthe surface water is raised to between 180 to 210 F., followed by rapidchilling through contact with tap water, then conventional plaiting anddrying.

In order to illustrate the process of the present invention, referenceshould be had to the accompanying drawings which disclose an embodimentthereof.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic flow sheet demonstrating the subject processfor avoiding creases in tubular knit acrylic fabrics intended for use inclothing.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

In the process of the present invention, the tubular knit acrylic fabricis designated 10 in the accompanying drawings. For the purpose ofillustration, such tubular knit Patented Nov. 16, 1971 acrylic fabric isOrion, and is a tube approximately 32 inches wide that has been knit sothat the same constitutes useful piece goods for the manufacture of mensshirts.

The fabric 10 has been Beck or paddle dyed using conventionalprocessing, and moves through the process shown in FIG. 1 in thedirection of the arrow, namely from left to right.

The fabric 10 may be conveyed at a speed of between 30 to 60 yards perminute. It should not be taut, although as will be noted below, it isspread by means of the spreader which serves to guide it through theprocessing of the present invention.

The wet fabric which may be at a temperature of to R, such as 90 F., atthe commencement of the process, such initial temperature not beingcritical, is passed through the idler rolls 12 between the heaters 14.

The heaters 14 are preferably spaced above and below the fabric tube,and may comprise infra-red heaters, although other types of heatingelements may be used.

The heaters 14 should dispense sufficient heat to raise the temperatureof the moving tube to a temperature such that the surface water of thefabric attains a temperature of between to 160 R, such as F.

The heated tubular fabric passes from the heaters 14 over the spreader16 through the steam box 18. The spreader 16 consists of spaced guideswhich are disposed within the fabric tube 10, as seen particularly inFIG. 2.

The steam box 18 is a conventional steam box, such as is presently usedto steam tubular knit acrylic fabrics intended for use in clothing. Assuch, it consists of a plurality of nozzles which discharge highpressure steam, such as steam having a pressure of the order of 80 to120 pounds per square inch gauge. No particular steam pressure need beused. However, the size of the steam box, and the steam pressure shouldbe such as to raise the temperature of the surface water to atemperature of the order of 180 to 210 F.

The distance between the heaters 14 and the steam box 18 is betweenabout 1 and 5 yards. Hence, the dwell time of the surface water at atemperature of between 130 to F. should be between 2 and 10 seconds.

Following the steaming, the fabric is conventionally processed. Thisincludes the steps of passing the fabric between the rubber-coatedsqueeze rolls 20, over the idler roll 22 and into the quenching bath 24.The quenching bath 24 is a trough through which circulating tap water ispassed. The dwell time between the steam box and the quenching bath 24is less than between the heaters 14 and the steam box 18.

The quenching bath 24 effects rapid chilling of the fabric 10. I havedetermined that such rapid chilling is necessary, or casual creasesand/or cracks will develop in the surface of the knit fabric.

The chilled fabric is conveyed from the quenching bath 24 over the idler26 through the rubber squeeze rolls 28, the idler 30, the guide rolls 32and into the plaiting unit 34.

The plaiting unit 34 is a conventional plaiting unit, as is presentlyused for the accordion plaiting tubular knit acrylic fabric.

I have determined that the elimination of either the heating stepinvolving the heaters 14, or the chill quenching step subsequent to thesteaming results in the presence of creases or crack marks in thetubular knit acrylic fabric. However, when both of these steps arepresent in the process of my invention, casual creases, and/or crackmarks or depressions in the tubular knit acrylic fabric can beeliminated or substantially eliminated.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.

I claim:

1. In a process for avoiding creases in tubular knit acrylic fabric usedin the manufacture of clothing comprising the steps of dyeing, steaming,quenching, and drying said fabric the improvement comprising heating acontinuously moving wet knitted tube of said fabric such that saidfabrics surface water is raised to a temperature of between 130 to 160F. after the dyeing and prior to steaming, steaming said heated movingfabric so that said fabrics surface water is raised to a temperature ofbetween 180 to 210 F., and rapidly chill quenching said steamed movingfabric with cold water.

2. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fabric is plaitedbetween the quenching and drying steps.

3. A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the fabric is movedthrough the process in a non-taut state.

4. A process in accordance with claim 3 in which the continuously movingwet knitted tube is moving at a rate of between to yards per minute, andthe steaming of the heated moving fabric is at a distance of between 1to 5 yards from where the fabrics surface water is raised to atemperature of between to F.

5. A process in accordance with claim 4 in which the fabric is Orlon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, PrimaryExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R. 8149.3; 685D

